General Notes

Portrait and Biographical Album
Ingham & Livingston Counties
Michigan - CHICAGO, CHAPMAN BROS., 1891
BIOGRAPHIES - Pages 485-496
ORLANDO B. STILLMANis probably one of the best known men in Alaiedon Towns
hip, Ingham County. He is a general farmer and the owner of a fertile a
nd productive farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, located on secti
on 3. He was born in the town of Groton, Tompkins County, N.Y., March 6, 1
825. His father is also a native of the Empire State, his natal day havi
ng been September 20, 1800. He was a brick-maker by trade, and in 18
32 he went to Ohio and settled in the college town of Oberlin. While the
re he made the first brick ever used in that part of the country, and it w
as he who made the brick for the first building of Oberlin College. At t
he time of his advent into the little place, it contained only four dwelli
ng houses. On the crest of the wave of Westward emigration, he started wi
th his family for Michigan with an ox-team and "prairie schooner" in 184
1.When Tecumseh was reached, a heavy fall of snow compelled him to lea
ve his wagon behind and proceed with a sled. When he reached Alaiedon Town
ship, he had left only $5 in money, two cows, and a canister of powder. T
he $5 was spentfor a yoke of three-year-old steers that were so weak th
ey could hardly walk, but by careful nursing on the part of the family, o
ur subject's father was enabled to exchange them the following spring f
or a fine yoke.
On first coming to the State, the father of the original of our sket
ch suffered many discouragements. The members of his family alternately sh
ook and burned with feverand ague. At one time, and during the harvest se
ason, eight out of the family of ten, were on the invalid list. In 1852 M
r. Stillman caught the gold fever and went to California by the overland r
oute, the journey taking nearly sixmonths, and he was obliged to walk ov
er the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He worked in the gold fields for a time un
til taken sick, and when well he secured aposition in a brickyard in S
an Francisco. His skill soon manifested itself and the company offered h
im a very tempting salary to remain, but he was longing to rejoin his de
ar ones at home, and soon came back to his old home, wherehe died in 1862
.
Before coming toMichigan the subject of our sketch spent one ye
ar in the preparatory school atOberlin, where he acquired a good knowled
ge of the English branches. On cominginto the township with his father, Al
aiedon, Meridian, Delhi and Lansing were combined, and possessed but for
ty voters, Mr. Stillman being personally acquainted with them all. The woo
ds were alive with wolves, deer and bears. Orlando B.Stillman became engag
ed as a teacher after he had been in Michigan for four years, a younger br
other having taught the first school in the district in a frame barn, bui
lt soon after the family came to this State.
Our subject wasmarried January 1, 1852, to Minerva J. Freeman, a nati
ve of Niagara County, N.Y. Five children were born of this marriage. Th
ey are Henry A., Orlando J., Rosalind, Daniel C. and Roy V. The first-bo
rn dates his years from December 9, 1852. He was married to Esther Post, a
nd is now a farmer in this township. OrlandoJ., was born September 9, 185
4, and died when in his seventh year; Rosalind was born September 9, 185
6, and married U. C. Guile, a farmer of Alaiedon Township; Daniel C. was b
orn January 28, 1865, and married Emeline Wilkins; Roy V., who was born Oc
tober 12, 1870, is still at home and unmarried.
Mrs. Minerva Stillman died in 1873, and our subject was again marrie
d, his bride being Miss Mary A. Bowdish, of Mason. Mrs. Stillman is a (49
5) member of the Baptist Church of this place, and most efficient worke
r. Our subject is a charter member of the Masonic fraternity of Okemos, ha
ving been thus connected since he was twenty-seven years old. Political
ly his sympathies are strong with the